Syed Shamshad Nasir, Missionary, USA
Muhammad Ahmad Sahib of Detroit reports that Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Detroit continued the tradition of participating in daily dars-ul-Quran and dars-ul-Hadith via Zoom meetings during the entire month of Ramadan.
The daily dars would start at 6:45pm and continue until 8:15pm. Missionary Syed Shamshad Nasir Sahib continued to prepare and deliver the dars. At the end of the daily dars, members asked questions on varied topics that Shamshad Sahib would answer.
This year, due to the virtual arrangements for the daily dars, in addition to Detroit Jamaat, members from Dayton, Columbus, Virginia, Chicago and Harrisburg were able to join and listen to the dars. The overall participation was particularly good, with more than 550 members from across various Jamaats benefiting the daily dars.
On 23 May 2020, the daily dars sessions concluded with silent prayer led by Shamshad Nasir Sahib. After the silent prayer, President Jamaat Detroit, Maqbool Tahir Sahib thanked Shamshad Nasir Sahib for his daily dars.
Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated on 24 May 2020. Due to state restrictions on large gatherings, Jamaat members were advised to offer Eid prayers at home. A few members were able to offer the Eid prayer at Masjid Mahmood, where Shamshad Nasir Sahib led the prayers and delivered the Eid Sermon.
“Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of fasting. Muslims must strive to maintain the same level of piety observed during the month of Ramadan. They must continue to partake in acts of charity and supplication while staying away from negative thinking, despair and materialistic desires” said Shamshad Nasir Sahib.
He also said, “You put your Satan in chains during the holy month of Ramadan, therefore let it remain in chains; don’t free him again.”
This year’s Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr was unusual and historic. Members did not go to the mosque to prostrate side by side in prayer with their fellow Ahmadi Muslims. It was a humbling and empowering experience for many members who led the Eid prayer in their homes with their families.
Messages from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, along with a message from Amir Jamaat USA, Sahibzada Mirza Maghfoor Ahmad Sahib were shared and read after the Eid Sermon.
“If Ahmadi Muslims wish to celebrate Eid in the true sense, then where they seek to attain the blessings of the true Eid by bringing about a moral reformation, they should also make every effort to free the world from injustices and should engage fervently in prayer” advised Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa in his Eid-ul-Fitr Sermon of 2015.
Although members were not able to gather and enjoy the traditional meal and sweets in Masjid Mahmood that are normally part of the Eid festivities, the Jamaat did arrange gift packs of sweets that were delivered to homes of Detroit Jamaat members thus sharing the happiness and joy of this special occasion.
May Allah help all the volunteers who not only prepared the gift packs but also delivered to homes. Amin